Apparatus for supplying oxygen to combustion chambers



June 5, 1928.

A. O. HIGINBOTHAM APPARATUS FOR SUPPLYING OXYGEN TO COMBUSTION CHAMBERS 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Aug. 15, 1924 U. m m T A June 5, 1928. 1,672,316

- A. o. HlGlNBoTHAM APIARATUS FOR SUPPLYING OXYGEN TO COMBUSTION CHAMBERS Filed Aug.15. 1924 2 sheets-sheet 2 l TTORNEY.

Patented June. 5, 1928.

nutren STATE s PATENT OFFICE;

' ARTHUR o. HIGINBoTHAi/i, or DENVER, COLORADO, AssVIGNoR 0E ONE-HALE To WILLrAM A. WEIGELE, or DENVER, COLORADO.

APPARATUS'FOR SUPILYING OXYGENv T0 COMB'USTIQN CHAMBERS.

Application filed August 15,1924. Serial No. 7323323.

My invention relates to an improved means-for the controlledy supply ofoxygen to the'lfire bed of a boiler after firing whereby to prevent the formation of excessive sniolieb7 a substantially complete combustion'of the gases emanated from the ignited fuel and it isfan object ofthe inventionto provide a highly efiicient 'though simple mechanism that is actuated :by movementv of a constituent element of the furnace toaflmit oxygen to the fire chamber of the same :it a predeterminedrate `and during. a given period of time.

A further object is to include in said mechanism, readily'adjusted means for regulating the rate at which the oxygen is admitted, and

the quantity of oxygen supplied in ythe pre-y determined spa-ce of time, and another aim of the invention resides in carrying the above objects into effect by a cam-operated damperclement and a time-controlled operating mechanism of novel form and arrangement, co-operatively combined, `as will fully appear inthe course ofthe following description. l The element ofthe furnace which by its movement actuates the time-controlled operating mechanism included in the invention, is ordinarily the door which normally *closes the feed-opening of the fire chamber, and it is in this connectionthat my invention has been illustrated in the accompanying drawings and will hereinafter be described.

It is to be understood, however, that other movingconst-ituent parts of a boiler or furnace, as for example, thev reciprocating piston-ram of a mechanica-l fpush-stolrer. may be employed for `the'same purpose without material changes in the construction and 'arrangementvof the elements comprised in the invention andwell within the scope of `the invention as defined in the hereunto appended claims and it will furtherappear that the construction of said elements is specifically of a nature which permits of vthe time mechanism .which operatesthey cam ofthe dan1per-ele1nent,'being actuated by hand in the event of its being impractical or inconvenient to associate the mechanism with a movable pari'l of the boiler 0r furnace, of the character hercinbefore referred to.

A preferred embodiment ofthe invention in the direction of the Aand f has been illustrated in the accompanying drawings in the several viewsy of which like parts are similarly designated, and in which Figure l representsa front view of a portion of a furnace wall and a door closing thc fire-opening thereof, with the elements and vparts comprised in the Apresent invention in their operative position with relation thereto, the casing enclosing the time-element of the mechanism having been shown in vertical section;

i Figure 2, an enlarged sectionalelevation of the adjustable governor-member of the time-element which ldetermines the duration of its operation-.after Aeach. actuation by movement of the fire-door; ,p f, Figure 3, a sectional detail ofthe adjustable anti-friction Wheel which transmits the movement of the cam-element of the invention to the dampers which control the admission of oxygen tothefire box;

Figure 4an enlarged face-view of the Cain-element:

Figure 5 shows on a larger scale, the con-l nections between the dempers which yin the formv of the invention illustrated in the vdrawings constitutethe controlling kmeans the closed position;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary vertical section taken on the line 8 8, Figure l, and drawn to an enlarged scale;

Figure 9 is a section in theplane indicated by the line 9-9 in Figure 1;

Figure l() is an end view of the door with the dampers in the closed positionflooking arrow AA in Figure l;

kFigure 11, asimilar view showing the dampers in a partially closedlposition.

Referringmore specifically to the drawings, 5 designates the wall of la boiler or furnace having a fire-opening 6 and a door e 7 hinged at 8, which normally closes the same. I

The door comprises a frame provided with an outwardlytprojecting flange'9 which deusual handle 13 to facilitate its movement.` The opening may be covered at the insidev of the door by'a preheating and diffusing element consisting of a series of baffle-plates f 14 Which are fastened in spaced relation to each other by bolts l5- passing through lugs on the door.

The baffle plates are angularin cross-section to form downwardly slantingapronmembers 16 which cover the spaces between them; they are provided with spacing-lugs 17I ontheir horizontal portions lthrough Which the bolts pass; they may be curved in their horizontal planes for the diffusion ofthe air passing through the opening and perforated to dispel the heat to which they are subjected and to lighten the construction of the door.

The dampers are automatically opened and closed after each movement of the door for replenishment of the fuel on the grate in the combustionl chamber of the furnace, by a time-mechanism of the escapement type indicated in its entirety by the reference character 19.

The time-movement includes a gear-train 20, and an escapement 21 mounted to oscillate about a vertical axis, and it is enclosed in a dust-proof casing 22 fastened upon a side of the door flange by bolts 23.

A lever 24 supported for oscillation about the spindle of the driving Wheel 25 of the time-movement, projecting exteriorly of the casing, carries a pivoted paWl 26 Which normally engages With a notched Wheel 27 at the end of the spindle and lugs 28 and 29 on the casing limit the arcuate movement of t-he lever.

The time-mechanism is operated by a coiled spring 30 disposed between a shoulder 31 on the lever 24 and a thereto opposed shoulder 32 on a bell crank 33 which is mounted to rockin bearings at the lower portion of the door by means of a shaft 34, and a rod 35 fastened to the lever and moving loosely through an opening in the shoulder of the bell crank, passes through the spring to prevent its lateral deflection.

A pin 36 on the arm of the bell crank opposite to that engaged by the spring, passes loosely through an opening in the door to engage the frame of the boiler around the fire opening when the door is in the closed position.

The escapement hereinbefore referred to carries at the upper end of its vertical shaft 37 tWo Weights 38 which by their distance from the axis of oscillation, regulates the velocity of the movement of the time mechanism imparted theretoby expansion of the spring as Will hereinafter be more fully eX- plained. f

The Weights are mounted upon a ytransverse rod 39 mounted to rotateion a forked head 40 at the end of the shaft 37.

The rod has right-hand and left-hand screw threads cooperating With corresponding.screw-threads in bores 'of v the Weights and it is provided with a knurled enlargement 41 `between the members of the forked head to facilitate its rotation.

A second rod 42 fixed ony the head and passing freely through plane bores of the Weights parallel to their threaded bores, guide the weights and hold them against-reg tation .With the. screw-shaft.

The time mechanism When actuated by expansion of the spring, effects the rotary movement of a shaft 43 which is mounted for rotation in alined openings of the upright portions of the door flange and which at the side of the flange opposite to that at which the time-mechanism is disposed, carries a camelemen't 44 which constitutues the instrumentality by which the dampers of the door are opened and closed when the mechai msm is in operation. l

The cam-element in its simplest form, consists of a disk having a peripheral, preferably grooved. edge of'irregular form. yThe edge of the cam is engaged by an anti-fric tion Wheel 45 on the Wrist-rod 46 of a crank 47 at the adjacent vend of the shaft of the upper damper and a bar 48 connecting said rod with the Wrist of a parallelcrank 49 on the shaft of the lower damper provides for the conjunctive movement of the dampers through the instrumentality of the cam.

It is preferred to compose the cam-element y of a number of steps of corresponding outlines but progressively decreasing diameters to vary the extent to which the dampers are opened by the operation of the time-mecha vnism, and the anti-friction Wheel 45 is slidably mounted on the Wrist-rod 46 to permit of its being adjusted from one step of the cam element to another across the entire Width thereof. i v- Having thus described the Lconstruction and (2o-operative arrangementof the component elements of my invention, its operation is as follows:

When the fire-door in its normal closed position and the time-mechanism is atrest, the dampers close the opening defined by the fiange of the door, as shown in Figures 1 and 10.

The anti-frictiouwheel of the dampers is placed in one of the grooved steps of the cam-elementaccording to the extent to which -pose of supplying thenre in the combustion chamber of the furnace withffiesh fuel, they pin 36 on the bell ycrank 313 is projected through the opening/ofthe doer-*by gravity of the 'parts las Ashown in Figuretyitbeing understood thatftheopening through which the in passes'is suiicientlywide to,- erinit oft e lslight lateral displacement of -e' pin caused ibythearcuate movement of the end of thebell vcrankarm 'with which it is connected.

"When'after the ireihas been vcoaled,th`e

door'is vreturned'to its'closed position, the j pin fbv jcontactvvith 4the furnace -wall,*com pels ghe 'bell crank `to Inove about its axis andl the corresponding movement of Athe shoulder 32 vcompresses the -spring against the opposed 'shoulder ofthe lever 24 -lvvhich isiheld through the VmediumV ofthe pawl 26';

Ithe frictional vresistance 4of the -timemechanismof'which it is apart.

ATl`be1l crankinthe positionfto which it is adjusted by the closing movement of' the door, has its arm engaged by the spring 30, at'so small an angle toa perpendicular lpassing'through the axis of the shaft'll, that the compressed spring 'will eX'ert'the press-ure resulting `from Aits enpansion, practically completely uponfthe lever Q4k of the timemechanism l-While itsltendenoy to open the Vireidoorby downward movement of the bell crank, is negligible.

The expansive movement of the spring causes' the operation `of thel time-mechanism at a rate'regulatedby the positionofthe 'Weights of the `escapernent"relativeto its axis of oscillation, until the lever 24 engagesv with rhestop 2e. u

Y vThe escapernent thus serves' as aggo'vernor controlling therate ofrotation of the camshaft 43 whichis driven'by the time mecha-y nism as'hereinbe'fore described, and :it `will be apparent that by adjustment of the Weights'through'the v'medium ofthe screw '39, theV velocity of the vcam-shaft may bef regulated vto l'iix the time period during which the dampers .areop'enedand closed `according lto variable circumstances such `as the kind ofiuel suppliedto thefurna'ce and thequantity of fuelded into-the furnace at one time. n v j y The rotary motion of the' shaft 43 is through themediuim ofthe camelement converted into an opening movement of vthe.

pivot'ed dampers ata rate dependent onv the peripheral form of the :'camwvith'whioh the Wheel oithe crank-movement of. the dampersvis in contact. j A v Thus, by thecrotarymovement'of the cam iiiuamea'inirigerea; .inthe-direction ofthe arrow C and at a rate regulatedbyjthegovernor of the time mechanism, the 'dempers are 1 dually opened by upwardmovement 1 @fue lwhen 451mm .it engeges'wah che ofthe cam Iatfits point of 'greatest f periphery diameter afterv `whichv it is lowered "under theinuen'ceof its own Weight and that of the-,other members ofthe cam-movement ofwhiclr it isk a -pa'rt until@ the damper-s are again in the'closed position. Y s

llt will thus'be apparent thatfthe time period during which the Vdampers are open 4to admitoxygen to the fire chamberr is rogulated `by the rate of motion-of the time jnlecha'msm under control of vits escapement governor 4and thatfthe'extent to whichrthe dempers areopened and the proportionate lengths of their opening and closing-movements are vpredeterimined by the shape and size ofthe cam.` Byy adjusting the Contact 'wheel from `onestop ofv thev cam to another orfbyk interchanging the cam with another 'offdiiferent shape, the extentito which the doors kvlare v'opened and the lproportionate lengths of the gradual opening and closing movementsof the dempersmay` bevaried to any desired degree. i l

"The air enteringthe combustion chamber of the furnace past rthe Agradually opening dampersis preheated by 'contact-'with the ba-le A"plates and `diffused-so asto spread evenly'overthe'entire 'arearof the fuel bed, and by proper .regulation of the ymovement of the jdanipers in thel lmanner hereinbefore described?, lthe' airis supplied in quantities varying 'faccordingf to Vthe `requirements `of the fuel toA form a substantially perfectv combustible=mixturek with-the gases evolved by ignition of the fuel, and thereby prevent the formation `and escape' of smoke,A

The'bafllesforme'd and relativelyarranged of lequal AWidth :to that above the upper damper, thelower portionof the door-flange concaved 'as best 4'shown in Figure 9. Having thus described my invention', what I claim and desire to secure byvLetters'Patelitis: "i 1.1'Oxidizing apparatus for` furnaces comprising in combination with vvthe combus- `tion' chamberof affurnace,'a ymovable elekIne'nt,aI damper controlling the admission 'of air' 'to the combustion chamber, andmeans actuated by movementof said 'element vto graduall'yope'n the damper andvreclosek the same in movements consuming a 'predetere mined period of time. .Y .f

2. ,Oxidizing apparatus for furnaces comprising in combination Withthecombustion chamber of a furnace, a'niovable element,

l a. damper controlling the admission of air to the combustion chamber, and means actuated by movement of said element toopen the damper byva gradual movement consuming av predetermined period of time and reclose the same. i l

y3. Oxidizing apparatus for furnaces comprisingy in combination With the combustionv chamber of a furnace, a damper controlling admission of air to the combustion chamber, a cam, means to open the damper by movement' of the cam,-and mechanism for operati on of the cam during a predetermined time-. period. f

4. Oxidizing apparatus for furnaces comprising incombination With the combustion chamber of a furnace, a damper 4controlling admission of air to the combustion chamber, a cam, means for the operation` of the damper by movement of the cam, and timemechanism for operation of the cam.-

5. Oxidizing apparatus for furnaces. comprising in combination Withthe combustion Chamber of a furnace, a movable constituent element of' the furnace, a damper controlling admission of airto the combustion chamber, and time-mechanism to gradually open the damper, actuated by movement of said element. i

6. Oxidizing apparatusfor furnaces comprising a lire-door having an opening, a damper closing the opening, a cam for the operation of the damper, and time-mechanism for operation of the cam, actuated by movement of the door.

7. Oxidizing apparatus for a furnace having an opening to its combustion chamber, a damper closing the opening, a cam for the operation of the damper, a fire door, and time-meclianism for operation of the cam, actuated by movement of the door.

8. Oxidizing apparatus'for furnaces comprising in combination with the combustionchamber of a furnace, a damper controlling admission of air to the combustion chamber, a time-mechanism, means for the actuation of the time-meclianism including a spring compressible by linear stress, and means to eeet the operation of the mechanism by expansion of the spring, and an element driven by the timeemechanism to open the damper. i

9. In oxidizing apparatus for furnaces, a time-mechanism, a coinpressible spring, a member adaptedto compress the spring by Contact with a rrelatively stationary abutment, and means to effect the operation of the Amechanism by expansion of the spring.

10. Oxidizing apparatus for furnaces, comprising in combination With the combustion-chamber of ak furnace, a dampercontrolling admission ofA air to the combustionchamber, aatime-mechanism, a lever, a pivoted pavvl onf the lever, in operative len:-

gagement With a member ofthe mechanism,

acranl, a compressible spring between oppoeedgshoulders on the lever and the crank, and anl element driven by 'the time-mecha*-` nisin to open the damper.

11. In oxidizing apparatus for`furnaces,

a time-mechanism, a lever, a pivotedfpawl on. the lever, in operative engagementivith. a member lof thel ,'mechanism, .a crank adapted to be-,movedby contact with vavrela-y tively stationary abutment, and ascompressible spring between opposed shoulders on the'y lever and the crank; l2. Oxidizing apparatus forv furnaces, comprising in combination With the combustion-chamber of ,a furnace, a damper con-,-

trolling admission ofair'to the combustion chamber, aV timemechanism, meansy for the actuation of the time-mechanism vincluding a lengthwise compressible,Y coiled spring,` a member to compress the spring, and I'iieans to effect the operation of the mechanism by expansion of the spring, and anelement driven by the'time-mechanism to `opengtlie damper. l I i 13. Oxidizing apparatus forvv furnaces, comprising in combination With the' combusf tion chamber of a furnace. acvdamper controllingl admission of air to the lcombustion chamber, time-mechanism for the operation of the damper, including `an adjustable 'comprising in lcombination with the combustion chamber of afurnace, a damper controlling admission of air to thev combustion chamber, time-mechanism for the operationof the damper, an escapement included in the mechanism, comprising anoscillating shaft, Weights carried by the shaft, and a rotary screvv element for adjustment of the Weights to, simultaneouslyvary their distance from the axis of oscillation, andmean's for actuation of the time-mechanism. v

16. Oxidizing V,apparatus for furnaces comprising in combination With the ,combustion chamber of a furnace, adampercontrolling the admission of airuto thepcombus'- lioo iio

tion chamber above the fire, and a timemechanism to gradually open the damper and reclose the same in movements consuming a predetermined period of time.

17. Oxidizing apparatus for furnaces comprising in combination with the combustion chamber of a furnace, a damper controlling the admission of air to the combustion chamber above the fire, and a time mechanism to gradually open the damper by a gradual movement consuming a predetermined period of time and reclose thle same.

18. Oxidizing apparatus for a furnace havin a door and a damper, Comprising a 15 cam or the operation of the damper, and time mechanism for operation of they cam, actuated by movement of the door.

In testimony whereof I have axe'd my signature.

ARTHUR o. HIGINBOTHAM. 

